Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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84. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an overview of the Budget 2026 measures to tackle child poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62062/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As was stated by the Taoiseach in advance of the Budget, tackling child poverty is a key priority for this Government.

I was determined that the social welfare Budget 2026 package would focus on reducing child poverty. I am delighted that I was successful in securing over €320 million in measures that will have a significant and positive impact in reducing child poverty. These include:

• The largest increase in the Child Support Payment in the history of the State, with increases of €8 for children under 12 and €16 for children aged 12 and over, benefitting over 300,000 children and bringing the weekly payments up to €58 and €78 respectively.
• Increase in the Working Family Payment income thresholds for all families by €60 per week. This will benefit over 48,000 families.
• All households in receipt of the Working Family Payment will qualify for Fuel Allowance, which will also increase by €5 per week in January.
• Expansion of the Back-To-School Clothing and Footwear Payment to 2 and 3-year-olds for eligible recipients.
• €20 increase in the Domiciliary Care Allowance.
• The extension of the Back to Work Family Dividend for recipients of Disability Allowance and Blind Pension.

It is important to note that Budget 2026 was the just one part of what is a concerted cross Government effort to tackle child poverty, an effort that includes, for example, the roll-out of the free school meals, free schoolbooks, early childhood care and education and free GP visit card programmes. In future budgets, I will continue to look at how income supports can contribute to the challenge of reducing child poverty so that along with other measures in the housing, childcare, health and education sectors we can meet our new target of 3% or less consistent poverty among children by 2030.